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Class 11 Education Chapter 1 Concept and Aims of Education
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. What is the meaning of the word Educare?
Ans: To rear or to bring up carefully.
2. What is the meaning of the Latin word Educatum?
Ans: The act of imparting education.
3. Who is the author of the book ‘Emile’?
Ans: Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
4. Who is the author of the book ‘Republic’?
Ans: Plato.
5. Who described education as a bi-polar process?
Ans: The educationist John Adams.
6. Who is the pioneer of individual-centred education?
Ans: Percy Nunn.
7. In tripolar education, which three aspects are emphasized?
Ans: The learner, the teacher, and the social environment.
8. “Education creates a sound mind in a sound body.” Whose statement is this?
Ans: Aristotle.
9. Which educationist emphasized the acquisition of social efficiency as the aim of education?
Ans: John Dewey.
10. Who presented the presently acceptable viewpoint of the social aim of education?
Ans: The educationist John Dewey.
11. In which aim of education is the development of individuality given the greatest importance?
Ans: In the individual-centred aim of education.
12. Who is the founder of the Kindergarten school?
Ans: The German educationist Friedrich Froebel.
13. What is the stage from 12 to 18 years of age called?
Ans: Adolescence.
14. What is the stage from birth to 5 years of age called?
Ans: Childhood.
15. Write True or False:
(a) The main aim of education is development, not merely teaching.
Ans: True.
(b) Education is the developer of human civilization and culture, not its preserver.
Ans: False.
(c) Informal education continues throughout the whole life of an individual.
Ans: True.
(d) School is the main centre of formal education.
Ans: True.
(e) Percy Nunn was a major supporter of individual-centred education.
Ans: True.
(f) An illiterate person is not necessarily uneducated.
Ans: True.
(g) There is no relationship between philosophy and education.
Ans: False.
(h) Modern education is child-centred.
Ans: True.
(i) The main advocate of education for a complete life was Herbert Spencer.
Ans: True.
(j) Formal education is socially recognized.
Ans: True.
(k) A child remains in the mother’s womb for 280 days.
Ans: True.
(l) During adolescence there is no vocational awareness.
Ans: False.
(m) One characteristic of childhood is homosexuality.
Ans: True.
(n) Loyalty to the group is not seen during childhood.
Ans: False.
(o) During early childhood a child becomes suitable for formal education.
Ans: False.
(p) From birth to two months a baby is considered a newborn.
Ans: True.
(q) Education is the process of modification of behaviour.
Ans: True.
16. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The pioneer of individual-centred education is
Ans: Percy Nunn.
(b) Education has two meanings: one narrow and the other —
Ans: Broad.
(c) Education is a tripolar —
Ans: Process.
(d) The individual and social aims of education are — of each other.
Ans: Complementary.
(e) — is not education.
Ans: Literacy.
17. Choose the correct alternative:
(a) Adolescence is the period of storm and stress / crime-proneness / oppression.
Ans: Storm and stress.
(b) The first five years of human life are called newborn stage / earlychildhood / childhood.
Ans: Early childhood.
(c) Loyalty to the group is a characteristic of infancy/childhood/adulthood.
Ans: Childhood.
(d) The questioning stage indicates the intellectual trait of infancy/puberty/adulthood.
Ans: Infancy.
(e) Imitative tendency is a characteristic of infancy/childhood/adolescence.
Ans: Infancy.
B. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 2/3)
1. Define education.
Ans: Different scholars have defined education in different ways. For example, Aristotle stated that “Education creates a sound mind in a sound body.” According to John Dewey, “Education is a process of living through which the reconstruction of experience takes place.” According to JohannHeinrich Pestalozzi, “Education is the natural, harmonious and progressive development of the innate powers of man.” Again, Mahatma Gandhi explained education as the process of developing all aspects of a child’s physical, mental and spiritual powers.
2. What is meant by the bi-polar process of education?
Ans: John Adams described education as a “bi-polar process.” One pole is the teacher and the other is the learner. The personality of a good teacher influences the learner both directly and indirectly. In other words, a teacher blends his or her personality with that of the learner. Therefore, education is called a bi-polar process.
3. What is meant by the tri-polar process of education?
Ans: The educationist John Dewey described education as a “tri-polar process” and stated that the teacher, learner, and social environment are involved in education. The curriculum is included within the social environment. According to him, education essentially arises from social consciousness. Therefore, education should emphasize fulfilling the needs of both the individual and society. Thus, the educational process includes the teacher, the learner and the social environment (curriculum).
4. “Education is a lifelong process.” Explain.
Ans: The educationist John Dewey described education as a lifelong process and stated that education continues continuously. That is, education begins with the birth of a child and continues until death. Only in the narrow sensedoes education have an end. But in the broader sense, education has no end. From this viewpoint, formal education is a narrow education. In reality, it is seen that formal education cannot cover all the knowledge necessary for life. Even after formal education ends, people have to acquire much knowledge from real-life experiences according to their needs. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that education is a lifelong process.
5. “A person without literacy is not necessarily uneducated.” Explain.
Ans: A person who can read and write is called literate. According to UNESCO, literacy means the ability of a person to read and write a short and simple statement with understanding in everyday life. In general meaning, literacy and education may appear to be the same, but according to educationists, there is a difference between them. From the broader perspective of education, a person without literacy cannot be called uneducated. Education is a lifelong process which continues from birth to death. Individuals gain various experiences in real life outside educational institutions. Therefore, a person without literacy cannot necessarily be called uneducated.
6. How many types of education are there and what are they?
Ans: Education is of three types:
(a) Formal education.
(b) Informal education.
(c) Non-formal education.
7. How many types of aims of education are there and what are they?
Ans: The aims of education are of four types:
(a) Individual aim.
(b) Social aim.
(c) Vocational aim.
(d) Democratic aim.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. What is formal education? What are the main characteristics of formal education?
Ans: The education that is imparted through a formal educational institution by following a fixed plan, time schedule, and curriculum is called formal education. The main objective of formal education is to acquire knowledge and skills and to develop individuals into suitable citizens of society. The main characteristics of formal education are:
(a) Formal education begins in primary school and continues up to the university level.
(b) Formal education has a fixed time limit.
(c) Such education follows a definite plan, scheme, time schedule and curriculum.
(d) It is imparted by trained teachers.
(e) Discipline is strict and controlled.
(f) The ability of learners is assessed through examinations.
(g) This type of education is costly.
(h) The main aim of such education is the expansion of intellectual knowledge.
2. What is informal education? Mention its main characteristics.
Ans: The education that an individual acquires freely and spontaneously from his or her own environment is called informal education. Such education is not based on textbooks but is gained from real-life experiences throughout life until death. The main characteristics of informal education are:
(a) Informal education is free and spontaneous.
(b) It continues throughout life.
(c) It has no fixed curriculum.
(d) There is no strict discipline.
(e) There is no formal certificate for such education.
(f) It is not imparted by a specific teacher.
(g) Its main aim is the development of practical knowledge.
(h) It can be acquired from any environment.
3. What is non-formal education? What are its main characteristics?
Ans: The special educational arrangements made by the government for those who cannot receive formal education are called non-formal education.
The International Education Commission first mentioned non-formal education in the report titled Learning to Be. The main characteristics of non-formal education are:
(a) It has no fixed time limit.
(b) Different types of curricula are arranged according to the needs of learners.
(c) Such education is provided through open universities, correspondence courses, and part-time education systems.
(d) There is no age limit for learners.
(e) It depends on flexible curricula, self-discipline and awareness.
(f) Degrees and certificates are awarded on the basis of evaluation.
4. Write the main differences between formal and informal education.
Ans: The main differences between formal and informal education are:
(a) Formal education has a pre-planned structure and framework, whereas informal education is free and spontaneous and can be obtained from any environment.
(b) Formal education has a fixed time limit, but informal education has no fixed time limit.
(c) Formal education follows a definite plan, scheme, time schedule andcurriculum, whereas informal education has no fixed curriculum.
(d) Formal education is imparted by trained teachers, whereas informal education is not imparted by a specific teacher.
(e) Discipline in formal education is strict and controlled, whereas informal education has no strict discipline.
(f) In formal education, the ability of learners is assessed through examinations, whereas informal education has no formal certification.
(g) Formal education aims mainly at the expansion of intellectual knowledge, whereas informal education mainly aims at the development of practical knowledge.
5. Write the differences between formal education and non-formal education.
Ans: The main differences between formal and non-formal education are:
(a) Formal education begins in primary school and continues up to university, whereas non-formal education is provided through open universities, correspondence courses and part-time education systems.
(b) Formal education has a fixed time limit, whereas non-formal education has no fixed time limit.
(c) Formal education follows a fixed plan, scheme, time schedule and curriculum, whereas non-formal education provides various types of courses according to the needs of learners.
(d) Formal education is imparted by trained teachers, whereas in non-formal education, the role of teachers is comparatively less and learning is oftenprovided through communication media.
(e) Discipline in formal education is strict and controlled, whereas nonformal education does not have strict control.
(f) In formal education, learners’ abilities are assessed through examinations, whereas non-formal education may not always provide formal certification.
(g) The aim of formal education is mainly intellectual development, whereas non-formal education depends on flexible curricula, self-discipline and awareness.
6. Write five aims or objectives of non-formal education.
Ans: Non-formal education refers to the educational arrangements made especially for those who cannot receive formal education. The International The Education Commission first mentioned this system in the report Learning to Be. The objectives of non-formal education are:
(a) To help make education universal.
(b) To help improve the standard of living of individuals.
(c) To develop social awareness among individuals.
(d) To make learners aware of the fundamental principles of education.
(e) To prepare people to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
7. Write about the individual and social aims of education.
Ans: The chief advocate of the individual aim of education was Percy Nunn. According to him, educational planning depends on the highest development of the best potentialities of an individual. This aim believes that every child or individual has a unique identity. Each person is born with certain qualities and potentials, and the main aim of individual-centred education is to develop these qualities in a suitable environment. Herbert Spencer also emphasized the individual aim of education and stated that the independent individuality of a person should be recognized and fully developed.
On the other hand, the social aim of education gives priority to the needs and existence of society rather than to the individuality of a person. The main supporter of this aim was John Dewey. The principal aim of this type of education is the development of society. An individual exists within society, and without society and the state, an individual has no existence. A person is always socially oriented and dependent on society. Human aspirations, ideals, and culture develop through society. Therefore, the main aim of education is to prepare the child for future social life.
8. Mention the weaknesses of the individual aim of education.
Ans: The weaknesses of the individual aim of education are:
(a) Individual-centred education represents individual freedom, but giving complete freedom to children may hinder their proper development because they may not understand the true meaning of freedom.
(b) The full development of an individual is possible only within society. Collective social experiences help transform individuality into a developed personality.
(c) Individual-centred education may make a person selfish and self-centred, which can create conflict and disorder in society.
(d) Giving excessive importance to the natural tendencies of children is impractical both theoretically and practically.
9. What is meant by the vocational aim of education? What is its importance?
Ans: The aim of education that emphasizes making individuals capable of earning a livelihood is called the vocational aim of education. The chief advocate of vocational education was Mahatma Gandhi. The importance of vocational education is:
(a) It gives importance to the economic aspect of human life and helps individuals become economically self-reliant.
(b) It can help reduce economic inequality in society.
(c) Vocational education is useful for individuals with lower intellectual ability.
(d) It can contribute to solving the problem of unemployment.
(e) It helps in developing the talents, abilities, and potentials of individuals.
10. Determine the differences between the individual aim and the social aim of education.
Ans: The differences between the individual and social aims of education are:
(a) The individual aim of education has a natural and scientific outlook, whereas the social aim of education has a socio-economic outlook.
(b) The individual aim emphasizes the development of the biological existence of a person, whereas the social aim emphasizes the development of social efficiency.
(c) The individual aim of education is based on naturalism, whereas the social aim of education is based on pragmatism.
(d) The individual aim provides full freedom for the development of the individual, whereas the social aim emphasizes fulfilling the social needs of the individual.
D. Essay Type Questions and Answers: (Marks for each –5/ 6)
1. Discuss the aims of education according to the National Policy on Education, 1986.
Ans: The main objective of the National Policy on Education 1986 was the development of the human resources of the country. According to this policy, the government renamed the Central Education Department as the Department of Human Resource Development. The main aims of this education policy were as follows:
(a) According to this policy, educational programmes should be universal
so that everyone can receive quality education.
(b) Another aim of the policy was to develop a sense of world brotherhood and mutual understanding among all people of the world.
(c) The National Policy on Education, 1986, emphasized lifelong education. It stressed that youths, women, housewives, labourers, and all sections of society should have the opportunity to receive education at any time according to their convenience.
(d) It emphasized that all people should receive education irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
(e) The policy also emphasized that learners should understand the diversity of the country’s social customs and cultures. For this purpose, importance was given to the development of link languages and the translation of books from one language to another. It also recommended the publication of multilingual dictionaries and terminologies.
(f) The policy considered the appointment of trained teachers, construction of schools, establishment of teacher training centres, and reform of the examination system as major objectives.
2. Explain the narrow and broader meanings of education.
Ans: Education is used in two senses—narrow and broad. In the narrow sense, education means the education obtained through schools. This type of education begins when a child enters school and is considered to end when he or she leaves school. The knowledge acquired by learners in educational institutions is measured through examinations. In this sense, education followspredetermined plans, curricula, schedules, and rules. Such organized education is provided to children for the welfare of society. The main aim of education in this sense is to transmit the traditions of the existing society to the upcoming generation. To achieve this aim, schools are established, and teachers are appointed.
On the other hand, in the broader sense, education is regarded as a lifelong process. Such education can be acquired at all stages of life, such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, youth, and old age. In this sense, it is said that life itself is education and education itself is life. It includes all experiences from birth to death. In the broader sense, formal education is considered narrow, and greater importance is given to learning gained through real-life experiences within the social environment. Educationists such as William Heard Kilpatrick and Alfred North Whitehead supported the broader meaning of education.
3. Discuss the scope of education.
Ans: The scope of education refers to the subject matter and areas that education covers. The scope of education is very broad. It includes all aspectsof human development such as physical, mental, moral, social, and spiritual development. The scope of education can be briefly stated as follows:
(a) Education includes all branches of knowledge necessary for an individual’s personal and social life.
(b) The whole life of an individual falls within the scope of education. Education begins with the birth of a person and continues continuously throughout life.
(c) Education includes all aspects necessary for the proper adjustment between the individual and the environment.
(d) Education acts as a medium for the preservation and transmission of civilization, culture, and traditions. All such functions fall within the scope of education. Moreover, all activities that influence the complete development of an individual are included in education. Fields such as educational psychology, educational philosophy, educational sociology, teaching methods and educational technology are all within the scope of education.
